Mounting for an air conditioner



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. R. HUCKLEBERRY MOUNTING FOR AN AIR CONDITIONER Aug. 4, 1964 Filed Feb. 14, 1961 IIIIIHHIIIHHI llmmmm INVENTOR. CAI/4 9465 falsely/flames h/imqwe lmnnmmu unmmmnn 4, 1964 c. R. HUCKLEBERRY 3,143,168

MOUNTING FOR AN AIR CONDITIONER Filed Feb. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllll/ll/I/ IIIIIIIIIIIII/ lIIIlIII/IIII/ IIIIIIIIIIIII/ INVENTOR. Cmwuss flee Abc msqwy United States Patent Ofiice 3,143,168 Patented Aug. 4, .1964

The present invention relates to a mounting for an air conditioner and more particularly to a mounting for a ceiling-type air conditioner.

In certain types of installations it is often desirable to support air conditioners from ceilings. This will give a room greater wall space and make the room more attractive.

However, it has been found that in ceiling type air conditioners presently in use the outer decorative cabinet prevents easy accessibility to the various piping and electrical connections and does not give complete access to the basic air conditioner unit.

In addition, it has also been found that in installing such air conditioners the outer cabinet often prevents piping and electrical connections to be easily installed thereby increasing installation costs.

In such installations, the rough work, such as plastering, etc. is usually performed after the outer cabinet has been mounted in place so that sometimes the cabinet becomes marred or scratched during the finish work. In addition, in the installation of present ceiling type air conditioners it has been necessary to paint the cabinet of the air conditioner to conform to the decor of the room after the air conditioner with its cabinet is installed. As a result, it is often necessary to thoroughly clean the room from paint spots, etc. All these factors contribute to increased installation expenses.

The present invention eliminates these drawbacks and provides an improved means for mounting an air conditioner which permits the outer cabinet to be easily attached and removed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for mounting an air conditioner in which the basic unit may be installed without the outer cabinet so as to permit installation of piping and other electrical connections without obstruction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for installing a ceiling type air conditioner in which the outer cabinet can be easily and quickly removed to give complete access to the basic unit.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved mounting for an air conditioner in which all the rough and finish work may be completed before the outer cabinet is installed, thereby preventing the decorative cabinet from becoming damaged or marred.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting for an air conditioner in which the outer cabinet can be painted to match the decor of the room before it is installed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved mounting for an air conditioner which permits the conditioner to be inexpensively and easily installed.

Other and further objects of the invention Will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an air conditioner mounted on a ceiling of a room with its outer cabinet in place thereon;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the means for mounting the basic air conditioner unit on a ceiling;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the means for mounting the outer cabinet around the basic air conditioner unit;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the air conditioner generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a basic air conditioner unit 2 depending from a ceiling mounting plate 3 fastened to a ceiling 4, a rear panel 5 mounted on the ceiling mounting plate 3, an outer cabinet 6 adapted to cover the basic unit 2, and an access plate 7 hingedly mounted on the outer cabinet 6.

The basic air conditioner unit 2 may be the standard type air conditioner unit having the usual electrical and piping connections (not shown). The basic unit 2 is provided with a lower plate 8 and a top panel 9 with protruding side flanges 10 having a plurality of openings 11 and 12 therein.

The ceiling mounting plate 3 is secured to the ceiling 4 by threaded hanger studs 15 and 16 which are imbedded in the ceiling. Hanger studs 15 extend through openings 17 in the ceiling hanger plate 3 and are adapted to receive washers 18 and nuts 19 to hold the plate in place.

Threaded hanger studs 16 extend through openings 20 in the ceiling plate 3 and through openings 11 in flanges Iii of top plate 9 of the basic unit 2 and are adapted to receive washers 21 and the nuts 22 to hold the ceiling plate 3 on the ceiling 4 and to support the basic unit 2 against the ceiling. The basic unit 2 is also supported by depending unit mounting studs 23 welded or mounted in ceiling plate 3 and extending through openings 12 in flanges 10 of top plate 9 on basic unit 2 to receive washers 24 and nuts 25 to hold the basic unit 2 in place. Thermal and accoustical insulation material 26 is preferably interposed between the basic unit 2 and the ceiling plate 3.

The ceiling plate 3 is provided with a depending peripheral flange 27 the rear portion 27a of which is provided with rear panel supporting openings 28 adapted to support the rear panel 5. The side portions 27b of the flange 27 are provided with spaced track segments 29 to support and guide the outer cabinet 6. The front portion 270 of the flange 27 is provided with a hook or support angle 34 to support the front of the outer cabinet 6.

The rear panel 5 is adapted to be mounted on the rear portion 27a of flange 27 of the ceiling plate 3 in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 31 extending through openings 32 in rear panel 5 and openings 28 in rear portion 27a of flange 27 of ceiling plate 3. The rear panel 5 is also provided with suitable accoustical and thermal insulation material 34 and with various knockouts 33 to permit the electrical and piping connections to be inserted therethrough. The rear panel has a plurality of side holes 35 adapted to hold the outer cabinet 6 in place and a horizontal inwardly extending lower flange 36 provided with openings 37 to lock the access panel 7 in place.

The decorative outer cabinet 6 (FIGS. 1 and 3) comprises a front wall 40, side walls 41 and a bottom wall 42 which does not extend for the full depth of the side Walls 41. The front wall 40 is provided with the usual discharge grille 43 and with an inwardly directed upper flange 44 which rests on the support angle 30 of the ceiling plate 3 when the cabinet 6 is placed in position (FIG. 4). The rear edge of the bottom wall 42 is provided with a hook 45 adapted to hold the access panel 7 in place, as will be taken along the line 4-4 more fully described hereinafter. The rear edges of side Walls 41 are provided with inwardly extending flanges 46 having holes 47 therein into which screws 31a are inserted to mount the cabinet6 to rear panel 5. The tops of the side walls 41 are provided with a pair of inwardly extending flanges 48 from which the spaced tracks 49 depend which cooperate with the tracks 29 on ceiling plate 3 to hold the cabinet in place.

The access plate 7 is provided with an outer flange 50 and has acoustical and thermal insulation 51 and return air filter 52 which fits in an opening through the insulation 51 and overlies an inlet grille 52:: through the plate 7. The front edge of the flange 50 is provided with a hook 53 adapted to cooperate with the hook 45 of the bottom wall 42 of cabinet 6 to be hingedly secured thereto. The rear portion of the access plate 7 has the quicklock fasteners 54 which fit into slots 37 in lower fiange 36 of rear plate to hold the plate thereon.

In order to install the unit, the thread hanger studs and 16 are first imbedded in the ceiling and the ceiling plate 3 is affixed thereto by placing the bolts 15 and 16 through openings 17 and 20 and holding the plate 3 in place by means of nuts 19 fastened onto bolts 15. The basic unit 2 is then mounted by passing the openings 11 and 12 in flanges 10 of basic unit 2 through the bolts 16 and 23 and securing the basic unit 2 in place by nuts 22 and 24 respectively.

Thereafter, the rear panel 5 is assembled and is threadably mounted to the ceiling plate 3 by means of screws 31 extending through openings 32 and 28 of rear panel 5 and rear portion 27a of ceiling plate 2, respectively. The electrical and piping knockouts 33 in the rear plate 5 are then removed and the necessary electrical and piping connections made.

The outer cabinet 6 is then mounted over the unit by the cooperation of tracks 49 on the cabinet with tracks 29 on the ceiling plate. The outer cabinet 6 is secured in place by screws 31a extending into openings 35 and 47. The access plate 7 is then hingedly mounted on the bottom wall 42 of the cabinet 6 through the cooperation of hooks 45 and 53 and is secured in place by the quicklock fasteners 54 extending into openings 37 in the lower flange 36 of the rear panel 5.

Hence, with this arrangement, the outer cabinet 6 can be easily assembled after the basic unit 2 has been mounted and after all piping and electrical connections have been made. To change the filter 52 or to gain access to the electrical and piping connections of the basic unit, without disturbing the basic unit or the outer cabinet, the access plate 7 may be swung down by unlocking quicklock fasteners 54. To gain access to the basic unit 2 without disturbing any connections, the screws 31a are re moved and the basic unit is uncovered by removing outer cabinet 6.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved mechanism for mounting a ceiling type air conditioner which permits the outer cabinet to be easily attached after all electrical and piping connections have been made and after all the rough work has been finished and which can be removed without disturbing the piping and electrical connections.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A mounting for an air conditioner, comprising a ceiling plate, means attaching said ceiling plate to a ceiling, an air conditioner unit, means extending beneath said ceiling plate supporting said air conditioner unit therebelow, a rear panel extending from said ceiling plate and forming a side closure for the air conditioning unit, said rear panel having openings for electrical and piping conduits leading to the air conditioner unit, said ceiling plate having tracks running transversely of the rear panel, a cabinet cooperating with the rear panel to close the sides of the air conditioner unit, two opposite sides of said cabinet having tracks which cooperate with said tracks in the ceiling plate such that the cabinet may be slid horizontally into mounted position as said cooperating tracks are engaged, and a cabinet panel carried on said cabinet whereby said ceiling plate, rear panel, cabinet, and cabinet panel enclose the air conditioner unit, said cabinet being slid into mounted position after the air conditioner unit has been mounted on the ceiling plate and after piping and electrical connections to the air conditioner unit have been made through the rear panel whereby access to the air conditioner unit is provided by sliding said cabinet along said tracks from its mounted position without disturbng the piping and electrical connections.

2. A mounting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cabinet panel comprises an inlet grille with an air filter carried thereon, and means mounting said cabinet panel on said cabinet such that said cabinet panel may be readily movable from its mounted position to provide access to the electrical and piping connections and to change the air filter.

3. A mounting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cabinet is provided with a grille through which air is discharged, said grille being located opposite said rear panel.

4. A mounting for an air conditioner, comprising a ceiling plate, means in the ceiling supporting said ceiling plate, support means extending below the ceiling plate supporting an air conditioning unit therebelow, a rear panel secured to said ceiling plate and forming a side closure for the air conditioning unit, said rear panel having openings for electrical and piping conduits leading to the air conditioning unit, said ceiling plate having track means running transversely of the rear panel, cabinet means slidable on said track means and cooperating with the rear panel to enclose the air conditioning unit, said cabinet means being slid into mounted position after the air conditioning unit has been mounted beneath the ceiling plate and after piping and electrical connections to the air conditioning unit have been made through the rear panel whereby access to the air conditioning unit is provided by sliding said cabinet means from its mounted position without disturbing the piping and electrical connections.

5. A mounting device as set forth in claim 4 further comprising means for connecting said cabinet means to said rear panel.

6. A mounting device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support means comprises studs secured to the ceiling plate and studs secured to the ceiling and passing through openings in the ceiling plate.

7. A mounting for an air conditioner, comprising a ceiling plate, means attaching said ceiling plate to a ceil ing, an air conditioning unit, means extending from said ceiling plate supporting said air conditioning unit therebelow, a rear panel mounted along an edge portion of said ceiling plate and forming a side closure for the air conditioning unit, said rear panel having openings for electrical and piping conduits leading to the air conditioning unit, said ceiling plate having track means along at least portions of two opposite edge portions thereof, said track means extending transversely of the edge portion on which said rear panel is mounted, said track means comprising U-shaped sections formed on said ceiling plate, cabinet means cooperating with the rear panel to enclose the sides of the air conditioning unit, two opposite sides of said cabinet means having downwardly depending flanges cooperating with said U-shaped sections in said ceiling plate such that the cabinet means may be slid horizontally on the ceiling plate as said cooperating track means and depending flanges are engaged, means securing said cabinet means to said rear panel after the cabinet means has been slid into position as described such that said ceiling plate, rear panel, and cabinet means enclose the air conditioning unit, said cabinet means being slid into mounted position after the air conditioning unit has been mounted on the ceiling plate and after piping and electrical connections to the air conditioning unit have been made through the rear panel whereby access to the air conditioning unit is provided by sliding said cabinet means from its mounted position Without disturbing the piping and electrical connections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,841,361 Bulkeley Jan. 19, 1932 1,874,940 Dwyer Aug. 30, 1932 2,132,985 Gebhardt et a1. Oct. 11, 1938 2,188,044 Hickman Jan. 23, 1940 

1. A MOUNTING FOR AN AIR CONDITIONER, COMPRISING A CEILING PLATE, MEANS ATTACHING SAID CEILING PLATE TO A CEILING, AN AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, MEANS EXTENDING BENEATH SAID CEILING PLATE SUPPORTING SAID AIR CONDITIONER UNIT THEREBELOW, A REAR PANEL EXTENDING FROM SAID CEILING PLATE AND FORMING A SIDE CLOSURE FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, SAID REAR PANEL HAVING OPENINGS FOR ELECTRICAL AND PIPING CONDUITS LEADING TO THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, SAID CEILING PLATE HAVING TRACKS RUNNING TRANSVERSELY OF THE REAR PANEL, A CABINET COOPERATING WITH THE REAR PANEL TO CLOSE THE SIDES OF THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CABINET HAVING TRACKS WHICH COOPERATE WITH SAID TRACKS IN THE CEILING PLATE SUCH THAT THE CABINET MAY BE SLID HORIZONTALLY INTO MOUNTED POSITION AS SAID COOPERATING TRACKS ARE ENGAGED, AND A CABINET PANEL CARRIED ON SAID CABINET WHEREBY SAID CEILING PLATE, REAR PANEL, CABINET, AND CABINET PANEL ENCLOSE THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, SAID CABINET BEING SLID INTO MOUNTED POSITION AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT HAS BEEN MOUNTED ON THE CEILING PLATE AND AFTER PIPING AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT HAVE BEEN MADE THROUGH THE REAR PANEL WHEREBY ACCESS TO THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT IS PROVIDED BY SLIDING SAID CABINET ALONG SAID TRACKS FROM ITS MOUNTED POSITION WITHOUT DISTURBING THE PIPING AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. 